The 2018 Show Me ID – Be Age Ok was launched for the very first time in Munster over the past week.

Show Me ID is the largest youth access prevention campaign in the country and aims to assist retailers in preventing minors from accessing tobacco, alcohol and other age restricted products. This is the first year that the campaign will hit the road on a regional basis, with Munster being the first port of call from 12-16 November.

All retail store owners and managers know that their best efforts to comply with regulations are only as good as the weakest link. When it comes to the sale of age-restricted products, such as tobacco, one mistake by a member of staff can lead to a prosecution under the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts. As part of the Show Me ID Awareness Week 2018 retailers across Munster will receive a Show Me ID Retailer Responsibility Pack. These packs contain all the information and tools to assist retailers and their staff in the prevention of sales of age restricted products to minors.

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae showed his support for the campaign saying “Show Me ID is a great way of spreading awareness of the fact that Irish retailers are training their staff to ensure that age-restricted products aren’t being sold to anyone under the age of 18. It’s a great way to demonstrate the retail sector’s commitment to a high standard of compliancy, but it also puts parents’ minds at ease knowing that their children can’t go in and buy something they shouldn’t”.

Retailers will also be encouraged to ensure that their staff have undergone the free, online training in age restricted sales available at www.showmeid.ie. Once the online training is completed, participants can enter a competition to be in with a chance to win a €400 One4All voucher.

Cork Retailer Kevin Herlihy said about the campaign “Show Me I.D. is a vital tool for any shop owner whose staff are involved in the sale of age restricted products and I would encourage as many of my colleagues in the retail trade as possible to take part in this year’s awareness week.”